Under Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 55-10-701, a juvenile court judge has the authority to deny or suspend the driving privileges of a minor who is found guilty of certain offenses or prohibited conduct.

This applies to violations including, but not limited to:

• Possession, use, sale, or consumption of alcohol.

• Possession, use, sale, or consumption of controlled substances (as defined in TCA § 39-17-4).

• Possession or carrying of a weapon on school property (as defined in TCA § 39-17-1309(b)–(c)).

• Any other criminal offense, status offense, violation, or infraction involving the above behaviors.

First Offense

For a first offense, the juvenile court judge has discretion to allow reinstatement of driving privileges after three (3) months, provided the judge signs a withdrawal order.

Additional Suspensions (TCA § 55-10-702)

Beyond the limited discretion for first offenses, the length of denial or suspension of driving privileges is governed by TCA § 55-10-702, which outlines mandatory suspension periods and conditions for reinstatement.

✅ In summary, Tennessee law requires strict consequences for juveniles engaged in offenses involving alcohol, controlled substances, or weapons, including the potential loss of driving privileges for a period determined by the court and state law.